Isack Hadjar couldn’t contain his anger as a potential top-five qualifying result at Formula 1‘s Las Vegas Grand Prix was squandered by an incident with Charles Leclerc.
Racing Bulls demonstrated its competitiveness under Las Vegas lights, with both cars reaching Q3, Hadjar and Liam Lawson featuring in the top six in the opening runs.
As the track dried out and lap times tumbled, Hadjar needed a strong final lap to consolidate his place when he started his final lap with less than a minute on the clock.
But having posted a personal best through the first sector, he was forced to slow dramatically as he encountered a slow-moving Leclerc, forcing him to settle for eighth.
Hadjar cut a frustrated figure after qualifying, believing the yellow flag caused by Leclerc at Turn 14 cost him the opportunity of a grid spot amongst the title contenders.
“It should have been way better,” he bemoaned to media including Motorsport Week at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
“Honestly, so far this year we’ve been driving in the rain only in races, with no visibility, so I never got to really try myself in the rain in an F1 car.
“So today was the first time, and honestly I enjoyed it very much. We are fast, so I’m happy to have done my first F1 quali in the rain.”
Hadjar ‘glued to Leclerc’ in Las Vegas
Hadjar confirmed he lost substantial time as a result of Leclerc’s error, believing that fifth at the very least would have been possible had he completed his last lap.
“Minimum fifth,” he rued, “just looking at seven tenths up through the map. It’s fifth, and if I find more time, then maybe more, but I should have done the lap earlier.
“I mean, it slowed down because there was a yellow, fair enough, but of course you’re allowed to lift and keep going. He stopped the brakes, I was coming behind.
Commenting on how the incident unfolded, Hadjar revealed the yellow flag had been lifted by the time he arrived at the scene, confirming Leclerc had slowed down.
“I mean, for me, yes, but not for him. He had slowed down a lot,” he added.
Although happy with a top-10 start, Hadjar still couldn’t move on from what could have been in Q3, had Leclerc’s incident not proven so costly, given his earlier pace.
“Yes, but when it matters, not really. But you pull with people, I want to start a bit further ahead tomorrow for the race.”
Such was Hadjar’s displeasure with Leclerc that he took to the radio as he headed to the pits, accusing the Monesquasque of ruining his qualifying
“Why was there a yellow flag like there was nothing,” he proclaimed.
When his team confirmed it was Leclerc who caused the yellow flag, Hadjar vented his frustrations.
“Yeah of course this guy ruined our session… like oh my god we are glued to him… to Leclerc.”
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